Tangible interfaces for computer aided design and design process support

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The doctoral research is linked to the EPSRC funded project PhysiCAD which is investigating a tangibleinterface for CAD using construction kits. The PhysiCAD project has revealed three areas of possibleresearch:1. Evolving construction kits for engineering design supportUsing Lego as a starting point (chosen for its familiarity and accessibility) the aim is to develop asystem that allows evolution of the components to meet the user's requirements and the needs of thedesign process. The limitations of Lego for design - resolution, scale, surfaces, and functional parts - need to be investigated. From this, a syntax for evolutions needs to be developed to allow users tocommunicate their required changes given the stage of the design process.Novel brick types (compatible with Lego) - flexible, off-plane, functional, higher resolution - must bedesigned to accommodate the evolutions of the construction kit as well as methods to generate bricksand systems of bricks to support the designer and design task.2. Techniques for simultaneous localisation and mapping of constructed models to useful CAD modelsThe first part is to explore and develop approaches for localising components within a constructedphysical model. Current approaches to consider are: IMUs embedded in Lego bricks, Computer visionsystem using a Kinect Sensor, Construction motion of the user's hands/arms. An experimental rig forthe IMU technique is currently in construction. A preliminary scoping study has been performed usinga computer vision approach.A method of translating the chosen SLAM technique into a useful CAD model or 3D visualisationneeds to be established. Potential expansion should include displaying changes in the digital modelon to the physical one as well as methods for feature based construction.This would provide an intuitive, tangible for creating digital models - moving away from the high skilllevel required for CAD using a keyboard/mouse/screen.3. Digital-Physical construction kits to support co-design and co-creationAn important aspect of physical prototyping is the ability to collaborate and communicate over thesame model. However, the affordances of digital modelling are lost when using a physical modelalone. A novel system to combine the two mediums is to be explored. Design behaviour comparisonbetween individuals, pairs and groups shall be investigated to establish requirements and developfunctionality of the system.This work would lead on from the PhysiCAD development rig - using a top down projector to augmentthe communal workspace. Means for capturing and presenting rationale, constraints and past andpossible design iterations will be explored.One of these three areas will be chosen following the initial scoping and exploratory phase of theresearch.